Chants de Victoires: La Nef in Stormy Waters

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Seán Dagher is recognized as one of the most eminent specialists in early music and folk music in Quebec, and on Nov. 29 he will once more join La Nef, to perform Chants de Victoires. Composer and arranger, Dagher will accompany the audience on an unusual musical journey inspired by the famous naval victories and shipwrecks that have punctuated the history of the St. Lawrence river. Using extracts from a rediscovered manuscript from the time of New France, the show will air forgotten songs, some of which haven’t been performed in more than three centuries.

Songs of New France brought to light

Dagher has had a close partnership with La Nef since 2006, beginning with La Traverse miraculeuse, which paved the way for a series of projects exploring the rich Celtic, Baroque, Arab, maritime and French-Canadian repertoire. The relationship took a new turn in May 2024 during a symposium organized by Université du Québec à Rimouski, where the seeds of the concert Chants de Victoires were sown.

The idea was to revisit popular songs, some of which tell the story of the 1711 victory against Admiral Walker, a significant battle that impressed itself on the imagination of New France. To do this, Dagher trawled through rediscovered manuscripts and carefully adapted them in a way that fused authenticity with contemporary musical sensibility.

“I prefer a style that evokes the past, yet remains contemporary,” he says. Timelessness is the key. Traditional instruments such as the cittern, Celtic harp and the shawm help to sculpt the sound and offer audiences a musical experience deeply rooted in Quebec heritage.

It’s all about collaboration

The evening’s program melds original compositions and revamped traditional tunes. Dagher describes it as being based on Chants de Victoires, a collection of songs written in New France to celebrate the important French victory over the English fleet under Admiral Walker. The story is told through maritime songs and dances of the era such as Soldat, mousse et matelot and Superbe anglais.

As is common in folk music, Dagher lets the musicians improvise, so that each song emerges in a personal and unique way. There will also be works by Michel Bordeleau, a member of the well-known folk group Les Charbonniers, who will appear on stage for vocals, mandolin and podorhythmie (foot tapping).

Several longtime partners will join them, including Pierre-Alexandre Saint-Yves (voice, shawm, recorders, bagpipes), Kate Bevan-Baker (voice, violin), Amanda Keesmaat (cello), Antoine Malette-Chénier (Celtic harp) and Andrew Wells-Oberegger (percussion, plucked strings, winds). The concert will also be recorded, the result to be released in 2025.

Translation: Cecilia Grayson